He’s Turned Out in His Sanday Best

What a month its been for Jeff Sanday.

On Feb. 2, he equaled his career best with a 63 and qualified for the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla.

Three days later he duplicated the 63 and was one stroke off the lead after the first round.

It was his PGA Tour debut.

He added rounds of 72 and 73 in the rain-shortened event and tied for 16th, earning $30,450.

On Tuesday, he fired a 65 at Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills to win a spot in the Nissan Open, which begins today at Valencia Country Club.

“I double dipped on the West Coast,” Sanday said. “Maybe I should have tried to get in at Tuscon.”

Sanday, who played for Jim Bracken at Cal State Northridge from 1990-1994, has spent his 2 1/2-year professional career on the Hooters Tour, Golden State Tour and Teardrop Tour.

“My expectations have been pretty low,” Sanday said. “The sheer odds of qualifying are ridiculous. I mean there are 130 players going for two spots. If I expect to win, then that’s a lot of pressure on myself.”

If it weren’t for the recent rain, Sanday might not be playing in the Nissan Open.

He had a 7 a.m. tee time for qualifying Monday but got stuck in traffic. He reached the first tee after the other members of his group had hit and officials assessed a two-stroke penalty.

“I’m lucky I wasn’t disqualified,” Sanday said. “I was running up to the tee with my tennis shoes on yelling at them to wait.”

When the course was ruled unplayable, he was given a fresh slate for the make-up round Tuesday.

Sanday arrived 30 minutes before his 7 a.m. tee time Tuesday but play was delayed two hours.

He was three-under-par through four holes and made six birdies on the back nine.

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Looking for an early tournament favorite who’s name isn’t Tiger? Look no further than Steve Pate, who lives in Agoura Hills.

The 36-year-old, five-time PGA Tour winner, hasn’t won since 1992, but is playing as well as he has since then.

Pate has finished in the top 10 in his past three tournaments, including a tie for second in the Phoenix Open. He ranks fourth on the tour with a 69.95 scoring average.

He’s ninth on the 1998 money list with $281,660, eclipsing the $261,436 he made last year.

And he sneaked in a few rounds at Valencia with former UCLA teammate Duffy Waldorf, who lives in Newhall.

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Wind gusts of up to 40 mph swept through Valencia Country Club during Wednesday’s pro-am.

Steve Jones made two nines on par threes and shot 12-over-par 84.

Robert Gamez had a nine on the par-four 12th hole.

Some weren’t bothered.

“It’s fun to hit a one-iron 180 yards into the wind,” said Texas native Justin Leonard, the British Open champion. “It’s not good for the ego, but it’s fun to figure out how to get around in the wind.”